Packaging foil, packaging and method of manufacturing said packaging

ABSTRACT

A packaging film having a first edge and a second edge in the longitudinal direction; a first material weakening zone and a second material weakening zone which extend between the first edge and the second edge and between them define an opening strip, wherein the material weakening zones end at a distance from the edges; a first sealing region adjacent to the first edge and a second sealing region adjacent to the second edge, wherein the sealing regions are localised on that side of the packaging film intended as the inner side of the package and the material weakening zones extend into the sealing regions; opening initiating means which are disposed at a distance from at least one of the edges, wherein an edge region between the respective edge and the opening initiating means is free from these opening initiating means.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a packaging film.

The invention further relates to a method of manufacture for a package using the packaging film according to the first paragraph.

The invention further relates to a package produced from a packaging film according to the first paragraph.

BACKGROUND

A packaging film of the genre specified initially in the first paragraph is known, for example, from the European Patent Application EP0473517A2. Linear weakenings are incorporated in the packaging film with the aid of laser beams, which weakenings define an opening strip which can be torn from the composite of the packaging film by the application of force by a user. The packaging film further has marginal sealing regions which serve to close the package. When the packaging film is processed in roll form, the packaging film is unwound from a roll on which the packaging film is wound and the packaging film is folded around a product. At the same time, inside edge regions, i.e. the sealing regions, of the packaging film, are pressed onto one another and sealed.

In the known packaging film, there is the problem that in the case of material weakenings which extend, for example, transversely to the unrolling direction of the packaging film, the required stability of the packaging film for roll-form processing can only be achieved with difficulty or even not at all, and specifically particularly when relatively thin films are involved. In addition, known pull tabs provided in the composite with the opening strip in order to release the opening strip from the packaging film have proved problematical. Such pull tabs, frequently also designated as opening initiating means, usually protrude from the package or are integrated in the packaging film in a very exposed position on one or two of the overlapping edges of the packaging film. The protruding or exposed position of the opening initiating means brings with it the risk of an unintentional initiation of opening. In particular, the opening initiating means integrated on the edge of the packaging film have a similarly negative effect on the stability of the packaging film, as is the case in the case of the material weakenings defining the opening strip when these material weakenings extend as far as the edge of the packaging film.

It is therefore the object of the invention to provide a packaging film, a method of manufacture for a packaging film and a package fabricated using the packaging film so that the previously specified problems are avoided.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object is achieved on the one hand by a packaging film according to claim 1 and on the other hand by a method for manufacturing a package according to claim 10 and by a package according to claim 14.

The subject matter of the invention is therefore a packaging film for producing a package, wherein the packaging film comprises a first edge and a second edge in the longitudinal direction, and comprises a first material weakening zone and a second material weakening zone which extend between the first edge and the second edge and between them define an opening strip, wherein the material weakening zones end at a distance from the edges, and have a first sealing region adjacent to the first edge and a second sealing region adjacent to the second edge, wherein the sealing regions are localised on that side of the packaging film intended as the inner side of the package and the material weakening zones extend into the sealing region, and comprises opening initiating means which are disposed at a distance from at least one of the edges, wherein an edge region between the respective edge and the opening initiating means is free from these opening initiating means.

Additionally the subject matter of the invention is a method for manufacturing a package using a packaging film according to the invention, comprising the following process steps: unrolling and supplying the packaging film in web form and producing a longitudinal fin by looping the packaging film and sealing the packaging film along the edges in the sealing regions, wherein the opening initiating means disposed at a distance from one of the edges, despite the existence of the edge region between the respective edge and the opening initiating means, which edge region is free from these opening initiating means, are accessible in the longitudinal fin so that they can be handled freely.

A longitudinal fin produced in this way is designed in technical language as longitudinal turn-down seam or longitudinal turn-down sealing seam because it is turned down onto the package after being produced and nestles against the package.

The subject matter of the invention is further a package that has been produced by the method according to the invention using the packaging film according to the invention.

As a result of the measures according to the invention, it is advantageously achieved that when handling the packaging film in roll form, no more stability problems occur because the edge regions of the packaging film are on the one hand free from material weakening zones and on the other hand free from opening initiating means. In addition, the packaging film affords the advantage that all the functions for opening the package are completely integrated in the packaging film. This means that no modifications need to be made to existing packaging machines and these machines can be operated at full speed despite the functions for opening the package being completely integrated. The integration according to the invention of the function for opening the package at a distance from the edges leaving an edge region free ensures the required stability of the packaging film when producing the package by machine so that the risk of tearing when processing a web of packaging film in roll form is avoided.

An arbitrary number of opening strips corresponding to the respective requirements can be provided. The orientation of the opening strip can also deviate from an orientation normal to the edges of the packaging film. Ultimately, its shape can also vary along the edges of the opening strip. The opening initiating means are aligned and positioned so that they cooperate with the material weakenings when a tensile or compressive force is exerted on them preferably from the plane of the packaging film. They then bring about an introduction of force into the opening strip so that a tear forms along the material weakening zones which act as a predetermined breaking point or zone and the opening strip can be released from the packaging film.

The material weakening zones can be configured to be flat or linear. They can be produced, for example, by an embossing process in which the packaging film is not completely penetrated in order to ensure its tightness. Preferably, however, they are produced by using a laser beam. They can be produced on that side of the packaging film which serves as the outer side of the package.

The sealing zones can, for example, be coated with a peelable coating. Such a coating can be provided, for example, by a sealable medium such as, for example, a cold seal adhesive. This solution is advantageous if heat-sensitive foodstuffs such as, for example, chocolate are to be packaged with the packaging. The coating can then be made on both sealing zones or only on one sealing zone.

The sealing zones can, however also acquire their peelability from the inner layer of the packaging film itself if, for example, peelable polymers are used for this purpose. In this case, the inner layers of the packaging film can be heat-sealed to one another. This solution is possible if no consideration or very little consideration needs to be given to possible heating of the product to be packaged during the sealing process.

The sealing zones run substantially in the longitudinal direction immediately adjacent to the edges or indirectly adjacent to the edges at a distance from the edges.

The distance between the edges and the ends of the material weakening zones can, for example, be the same for both edges. According to a preferred exemplary embodiment, however, a first distance between the first edge at which the material weakening zones end on the one side is greater than a second distance between the second edge at which the material weakening zones end on the other side. This asymmetry of the distances enables easy folding of the packaging film to form a tube, wherein the edges can be disposed substantially congruently and for example, opening initiating means can simply be arranged symmetrically in relation to the edges.

The opening initiating means can be formed, for example, by an opening tab glued onto the opening strip or welded together with said strip. However, such a construction is relatively complex and therefore disadvantageous. It has proved to be particularly advantageous if the opening initiating means comprise a first slit which is formed at a position corresponding to an intermediate space between the material weakenings, wherein this first slit is localised adjacent to the second edge having a distance from the second edge corresponding to the second distance. The opening initiating means positioned in such a manner allow a direct tearing of the opening strip at that end of the opening strip that is adjacent to the second edge. A user of the package can, for example grip into the first slit with his fingernail and apply the necessary tensile force to start a release of the opening strip.

The form of the opening initiating means is preferably given by a first slit, wherein this first slit can be produced, for example, by cutting with a knife, by stamping a material strip or by cutting with the aid of laser. It is advantageous to use the laser if this laser is already used for other processing steps on the packaging film. The width of the first slit can be kept as small as possible to avoid any unintentional or accidental initiation of the opening. In another embodiment, the width of the slit can, however, also have an appreciable width, which can sometimes facilitate access to the slit.

The packaging film can have opening initiating means formed only on one side adjacent to the second edge.

However, the opening initiating means can also be formed on both sides adjacent to the two edges. In this case, the opening initiating means advantageously have, in addition to said first slit, a further first slit which is localised adjacent to the first edge having a distance from the first edge corresponding to the second distance. These geometrical relationships are advantageous if the edges of the packaging films are to be localised congruently in a longitudinal fin of the package. However, if there should be a difference in the position of the two edges, the position of the opening initiating means formed on both sides must be adapted according to the said difference in the position of the edges in order to obtain a congruent positioning of the opening initiating means in the longitudinal fin.

Regardless of whether the opening initiating means are formed on one side or on both sides, they can in principle be achieved exclusively through said slit. According to a preferred exemplary embodiment however, the opening initiating means comprise a second slit and a third slit and the first slit is connected to the second slit and the third slit, and the second slit extends from the first slit in the direction of the first material weakening zone and the third slit extends from the first slit in the direction of the second material weakening zone. In this advantageous embodiment of the opening initiating means, the three slits inside the edges of the packaging film, that is, at a distance with an edge region free from opening initiating means, form a tab which allows relatively easy access to the opening strip. The tab can, for example, be pressed out as simply as possible from the plane of the packaging film by the finger of a user and grasped, for example, with two fingers in the side of the packaging film from which the tab has been pressed out from the packaging film. By tearing on the tab, the opening strip can be released from the composite of the packaging film along the material weakening zones.

In the case of heat-sealing coatings, the width of the slits of the opening initiating means should be sufficiently large to be able to avoid any unintentional closure of the respective slit due to the melting of the sealing layer in the longitudinal fin if, for example, the edges of the packaging film are localised congruently in the longitudinal fin of the package and if the opening initiating means are formed on both sides and positioned congruently.

That edge region that is free from the opening initiating means has a tear zone. As desired, the tear zone can be torn from the film by a user so that access to the opening initiating means is facilitated.

If the opening initiating means are provided adjacent to both edges of the packaging film, it has proved to be advantageous if a separating slit is formed which runs between the material weakening zones along the first edge at a distance measured from the first edge which is greater than or equal to the first distance inside the first sealing region. This separating slit allows sealed-together regions of the packaging film to be peeled away from one another when tearing the packaging film with the aid of the opening initiating means and specifically beginning at the position of the separating slit. When starting to tear at the opening initiating means, a break is initially formed in the packaging film along the material weakening zones in both sealed-together layers of the packaging film. This break finally reaches the separating slit. From the separating slit the break in the packaging film does not continue into the two layers of the packaging film which are sealed onto one another. Rather, the break only continues in that part of the packaging film which does not have the separating slit. Therefore, this part not having the separating slit is peeled away from the other part to which it is sealed. Only after the opening strip has been separated along the packaging film around the package is the separating slit again reached at its end and possibly the other part of the packaging film still remaining in the sealing zone is separated from the packaging film by completely removing the opening strip.

The size and configuration of the separating slit can vary according to the requirement profile, which relates on the one hand to the width of the separating slit and on the other hand to the length of the separating slit. In order to enable reliable peeling of the two sealed-together parts of the packaging film, it has provided advantageous if the separating slit extends beyond the material weakening zones or, in other words, beyond the width of the opening strip, therefore is longer than the distance between the material weakening zones. This separating slit can be produced, for example, by cutting with a knife, by stamping a material part or by cutting with the aid of a laser beam. In particular, when the material weakening zones are produced using a laser, it has proved advantageous to also use this laser to produce the separating slit.

It has proved to be particularly advantageous if a third material weakening zone and a fourth material weakening zone is formed between the further first slit and the separating slit, wherein the third material weakening zone runs between the first material weakening zone and the end region of the further first slit and the fourth material weakening zone runs between the other end region of the further first slit. The third and fourth material weakening zones are not formed as cuts or stampings because otherwise the tab thus formed would fall out from the packaging film during production of the packaging film if the third and fourth material weakening zones were to end at the separating slit. The type and configuration of the third and fourth material weakening zone can be the same as the first and second material weakening zone or it can be adapted according to the tearing process to be achieved. It therefore preferably comprises an embossing, a scoring or a perforation of the packaging film. A perforation is possible because no tightness is required in the sealing regions. The third and fourth material weakening zones define the direction of tearing in the sealing zone starting from the tab towards the separating slit and avoid any uncontrolled propagation of the tear in the sealing region.

As specified initially, in the method for manufacturing a package using packaging film according to the invention, it is advantageous if the opening initiating means disposed at a distance from one of the edges despite the existence of the edge region between the respective edge and the opening initiating means, which edge region is free from these opening initiating means, are accessible in the longitudinal fin so that they can be handled freely. Only if the opening initiating means are formed so that they can be handled freely in the longitudinal fin can they develop their effect for initiating the opening of the opening strip.

When producing the longitudinal fin, two different process sequences are possible according to the respective configuration of the packaging film.

In a first embodiment the opening initiating means are only formed on one side adjacent to one of the edges. According to this embodiment, when producing the longitudinal fin, that edge on which the opening initiating means are formed and the other edge are aligned such that that edge on which the opening initiating means are formed projects so far beyond the other edge in the longitudinal fin that the opening initiating means are localised above the other edge. The opening initiating means are then not covered by a region of the packaging film free from opening initiating means in the longitudinal fin since this ends below the opening initiating means in the longitudinal fin. As a result, this can be handled freely.

According to a second embodiment of the packaging film, the opening initiating means are formed on both sides adjacent to both edges of the packaging film. When producing the longitudinal fin, the two edges are aligned so that the opening initiating means formed on both sides are localised congruently in the longitudinal fin. In this case, it is also ensured that the opening initiating means formed adjacent to one of the edges are not accidentally covered by a region of the packaging film free from opening initiating means or are sealed therewith. Its free handling is thereby ensured.

A tubular packaging structure thus produced is finally sealed on a top or on a bottom side or on the left and right side of the package to be produced and separated from the packaging film.

The plastic film can in principle be formed by a monomaterial. According to a preferred exemplary embodiment, however, the plastic film is achieved by a composite material which has been produced, for example, by extrusion laminating or adhesive laminating. The composite material can comprise a plurality of layers of plastic or a combination of plastic layers with metal layers or paper layers etc. Usually, the composite material has a non-sealable material on the film outer side which is printed according to customer specifications. In such an application, it has also proved to be advantageous if the inner side of the packaging film is metallised. For example and not listed definitively, polyester (PET), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP) and polyamide (PA) can be used as materials for the plastic layer. When producing a composite material, a layered composite or a combination of the previously listed materials can be used. In addition to the coatings or intermediate layers already mentioned, paper layers or further metal layers or combinations of these layers can be used for this purpose. The laminating adhesives can be any materials known in practice. All peelable coatings known in practice (polymers, cold seal adhesives or self-adhesive materials) whose peeling force does not exceed 3 N/15 mm can be used.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The invention is explained once again in further detail hereinafter with reference to the appended figures by means of exemplary embodiments to which the invention is not, however, restricted. In the different figures the same components are provided with identical reference numbers. In the figures, schematically:

FIG. 1 shows a view of the inner side of a first exemplary embodiment of a packaging film according to the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a view of the outer side of the packaging film according to FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a conceptual diagram of a fin formation with the packaging film according to FIG. 2 with fin turned down to the left;

FIG. 4 shows the conceptual diagram according to FIG. 3 with fin turned down to the left;

FIG. 5 shows a packaging film according to the invention fabricated according to the conceptual diagram from FIGS. 3 and 4 in a first perspective;

FIG. 6 shows the package according to FIG. 5 in a second perspective;

FIG. 7 shows the package according to FIG. 5 in a further perspective;

FIG. 8 shows a view of the inner side of a second exemplary embodiment of a packaging film according to the invention;

FIG. 9 shows a view of the outer side of the packaging film according to FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 shows a package according to the invention fabricated using the packaging film from FIGS. 8 and 9 in a first perspective; and

FIG. 11 shows the package according to FIG. 10 in a second perspective.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows a packaging film 1 according to the invention for producing a plurality of packages 17 (see FIGS. 5 to 7). Each segment S_(n−1), S_(n) and S_(n+1) is formed identically. The boundaries of the segments S_(n−1), S_(n) and S_(n+1) are indicated by imaginary dividing lines T1 and T2 at which the packaging film 1 is segmented by a cutting process when producing the packages 17. The packaging film 1 comprises a first edge 2 and a second edge 3 in the longitudinal direction LR (indicated by an arrow). The packaging film 1 which is spread out flat has been previously unwound from a roll (not shown).

The packaging film 1 further comprises a first material weakening zone 4 and a second material weakening zone 5. The two material weakening zones 4 and 5 extend between the first edge 2 and the second edge 3 in the transverse direction to the longitudinal direction LR of the packaging film 1. An opening strip 6 is defined between them. The material weakening zones 4 and 5 end on one side at a first distance A1 from the first edge 2. The material weakening zones 4 and 5 end on the other side at a second distance A2 from the second edge 3. The first distance A1 is greater than the second distance A2.

The packaging film 1 further comprises two sealing regions 9A and 9B oriented in the longitudinal direction LR which are localised adjacent to the first edge 2 or the second edge 3. As shown in FIG. 1, the sealing regions 9A and 9B are implemented on a side of the packaging film 1 which is intended as inner side 1A of the package 17. The material weakening zones 4 and 5 extend into the sealing regions 9A and 9B. Transverse sealing regions 19A and 19B used for closure of the package 17 on the left and right side, run transversely to the longitudinally oriented sealing regions 9 a and 9B.

The packaging film 1 further comprises opening initiating means 10 which are each disposed at a distance from one of the edges 2 or 3, wherein one edge region RB between the respective edge 2 or 3 and the opening initiating means 10 is free from these opening initiating means 10. In the packaging film according to the invention, accordingly neither the material weakening zones 4 and 5 nor the opening initiating means 10 are guided out as far as the respective edge 2 or 3. The packaging film 1 according to the invention therefore has respectively one material strip at the edge in which there is no weakening of the composite of the packaging film 1. This material strip is therefore formed free from weakening. This appreciably increases the stability of the packaging film 1 and makes it particularly suitable for roll-form handling in which the packaging film is unrolled at relatively high speed from a roll and supplied to a further processing.

The opening initiating means 10 comprises a first slit 11 which is formed at a position corresponding to the intermediate space between the material weakening zones and 5. In the present case, the first slit 11 is localised adjacent to the second edge 3 at a distance from the second edge 3 according to the second distance A2. The first slit 11 runs parallel to the second edge 3. A further first slit 11 is also provided parallel to the first edge 2 symmetrically to the longitudinal axis of the packaging film 1. This further first slit 11 is localised between the first edge 2 and the end of the material weakening zones 4 and 5.

The opening initiating means 10 further comprises a second slit 12 and a third slit 13. The first slit 11 is further connected to the second slit 12 and the third slit 13. The second slit 12 extends from the first slit 11 in the direction of the first material weakening zone 4. The second slit 13 extends from the first slit 11 in the direction of the second material weakening zone 5.

In the case of the opening initiating means 10 disposed adjacent to the second edge 3, the second slit 12 opens into the first material weakening zone 4 and the third slit 13 opens into the second material weakening zone 5. In the case of the opening initiating means 10 disposed adjacent to the first edge 2, the second slit 12 does not open directly into the first material weakening zone 4 and the third slit 13 does not open directly into the second material weakening zone 5.

The opening initiating means 10 are formed on both sides adjacent to the two edges 2 and 3 of the packaging film and are identically dimensioned. The length of the first slit 11 in this case substantially corresponds to the distance of the two material weakening zones 4 and 5 from one another. The length of the second slit 12 and the third slit 13 is determined so that at the first edge they do not extend into the material weakening zones 4 and 5. That edge region RB of the packaging film that is situated adjacent to the opening initiating means 10 and between the opening initiating means 10 and the respective edge 2 and 3, has the function of a tear-off zone 14. This will be discussed subsequently in the functional description of the package 17.

The packaging film 1 further comprises a separating slit 15 which runs between the material weakening zones 4 and 5 along the first edge 2 at a distance measured from the first edge 2 which is equal to the first distance A1 inside the first sealing region 9A. The separating slit 15 is slightly longer than the distance between the two material weakening zones 4 and 5 and runs parallel to the first edge 2. It therefore protrudes on both sides of the material weakening zones 4 and 5 beyond the opening strip 6 defined between them. The function of the separating slit 15 will also be discussed subsequently in the functional description of the package 17. At this point it should also be noted that the separating slit 15 can also be disposed at a distance measured from the first edge 2 that is greater than the first distance 1. This means that the separating slit 15 need not precisely connect these material weakening zones 4 and 5 at the end of the material weakening zones 4 and 5. Measured from the first edge 2, it can also lie further inside the packaging film 1, provided that it is still located in the first sealing region so that the tightness of the package 17 is ensured.

Third material weakening zones 19 and fourth material weakening zones 20 are formed between the further first slit 11, more precisely between the ends of the associated second and third slits 12 and 13, and the separating slit 15. The third material weakening zone 19 runs between the first material weakening zone 4 and the end region of the second slit 12. The fourth material weakening zone 20 runs between the second material weakening zone 5 and the end region of the third slit 13.

FIG. 2 shows the side of the packaging film 1 which is intended as an outer side 1B of the package 17. The packaging film 1 shown in FIG. 1 was folded over about its longitudinal axis. The outer side 1B substantially consists of a plastic layer. Two print control marks 16 can be seen on this outer side 1B. The opening initiating means 10 as well as the separating slit 15 can also be seen. The material weakening zones 4 and 5 are not visible at all or barely visible (indicated by interrupted lines) since these are produced on the side of the packaging film 1 intended as inner side 1A of the package 17.

The use of the packaging film 1 in a method according to the invention for manufacturing a package 17 according to the invention, as shown in FIGS. 5 to 7 is explained hereinafter. In the method the packaging film is initially unrolled from a roll and the packaging film 1 is supplied in web form to a packaging machine such as, for example, a flowpack packaging machine (not shown). As visualised in the conceptual diagrams according to FIGS. 3 and 4, in the packaging machine a longitudinal fin 18 is produced by forming the packaging film 1 into a tube and sealing the packaging film 1 along the edges 2 and 3 in the sealing regions 9A and 9B.

For reasons of clarity the two sealing regions 9A and 9B are shown separately from one another which in reality is not the case with sealed sealing regions 9A and 9B. The edges are then congruent and depending on the viewing direction according to FIG. 3 or FIG. 4, only one of the edges 2 or 3 is visible. In FIG. 3 the longitudinal fin 18 is shown folded to the right so that the second edge 2 is disposed above the third edge 3. This is the typical position of the longitudinal fin in a finished package 17. In FIG. 4 the longitudinal fin 18 is shown folded to the left. Now the rear side of the longitudinal fin 18 can be seen which in the finished package usually abuts against the package 17. In this position of the longitudinal fin the separating slit 15 can also be seen.

In the present case, the opening initiating means 10 arranged corresponding to the first and the second edge and 3 are formed on both sides adjacent to the edge regions RB. When producing the longitudinal fin 18, the two edges 2 and 3 are aligned so that the two opening initiating means 10 are congruent in the longitudinal fin 18. Consequently, the opening initiating means 10 are integrated so that they can be handled freely in the longitudinal fin 18 although they are not located on the outer edges 2 and 3 thereof.

An opening function of the package with the aid of FIGS. 5 to 7 is explained hereinafter with reference to a first exemplary embodiment of a package 17 according to the invention, i.e. a package of a chocolate bar manufactured from a packaging film 1 according to the invention with a cold seal adhesive peel coating according to FIGS. 1 to 2.

In FIG. 5 the situation shown in FIG. 3 is substantially visualised with regard to the observation of the longitudinal fin 1. In the present case, however, the longitudinal fin 18 is shown completely erect, that is projecting away from the package 17, and the package 17 is viewed from the side. In this situation the longitudinal fin 18 can easily be gripped from behind by a finger and the tab formed by the opening initiating means 10 can be pressed out from the longitudinal fin 18 in the forward direction, that is from the plane of the drawing. The tab thus pressed out can easily be gripped, e.g. with the fingers of the other hand and the opening strip 6 can then be torn out completely from the packaging film 1 around the package 17 or at least torn out as far as the longitudinal fin 18, so that the package 17 does not fall into two parts.

In FIG. 6 the situation shown in FIG. 4 is substantially visualised with regard to the observation of the longitudinal fin 1. Compared to FIG. 5, however, the package 17 has been turned through 180° about its longitudinal axis. The separating slit 15 can be clearly seen on the rear side of the fin 18 which is usually placed against the package 17.

If the tab formed by the opening initiating means 10 as shown in FIG. 7 (this approximately corresponds to the view according to FIG. 5) is now pulled out from the longitudinal fin 18 from the plane of the drawing (in the direction opposite to the viewing direction), a break propagates in the longitudinal fin 18 through the sealed-together regions of the packaging film 1 as far as the separating slit. From the separating slit 15 the break only propagates in the front part. In the plane of the drawing this is the upper position of the longitudinal fin 18. From the separating slit 15 the sealing regions 9A and 9B which are sealed onto one another, are only separated from one another or peeled from one another. The inner side 1A of the packaging film 1 is visible in the region of the longitudinal fin 18 which is peeling away from one another.

Preferably the tab formed by the opening initiating means 10 is also exposed, as shown in FIG. 7. For this purpose the tear-off region 14 is torn off from the package 17, which makes it easier to grip the opening initiating means 10.

A further exemplary embodiment of the packaging film 1 is shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. In the present case, the opening initiating means 10 are only formed on one side. In the present case, the two material weakening zones 4 and 5 can easily be brought so close to the first edge 2 that the edge region RB is sufficiently large to ensure the required stability of the packaging film 1.

FIGS. 10 and 11 show a second exemplary embodiment of a package 17 according to the invention which has been fabricated from the packaging film 1 shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.

In the present case, when producing the longitudinal fin 18, the second edge 3 on which the opening initiating means 10 are formed, and the other (first) edge 2 are aligned so that the second edge 3 projects so far beyond the first edge 2 in the longitudinal fin 18 that the opening initiating means 10 are localised above the first edge 2. This situation is shown in FIG. 11 in which the rear side of the longitudinal fin 18 is visible. According to this embodiment, the longitudinal fin 18 is only implemented in sections by sealed-together parts of the packaging film 1. The remaining (unsealed) region of the longitudinal fin 18 which projects beyond this common region is only implemented as single-layer by the packaging film 1, the inner side 1A of the packaging film 1 being visible here.

In the present case, the separating slit 15 can also be dispensed with since this is substantially virtually formed by the first edge 2 of the packaging film 1 ending below the opening initiating means 10. When tearing on the tab formed by the opening initiating means 10 out from the plane of the drawing (see FIG. 10—but not shown in detail), the break initially propagates along the opening strip 6 in the longitudinal fin 18 in the direction of the double-layer sealed region of the longitudinal fin 18. In this case, the break is only produced in the outer single-layer region of the longitudinal fin 18. Even after reaching the two-layer region of the longitudinal fin 18, the break only propagates in the same layer of the longitudinal fin where it was previously produced. From the first edge however, the sealed-together sealing regions 9A and 9B peel away as was described in the preceding exemplary embodiment.

It is finally noted once again that the package described in detail hereinbefore and the method for producing this package as well as the packaging film merely comprise exemplary embodiments which can be modified by the person skilled in the art in various ways without departing from the scope of the invention. It is noted for the sake of completeness that the use of the indefinite articles “a” or “one” does not preclude the relevant features being able to be present in multiple form. Features of the other exemplary embodiments disclosed in connection with one exemplary embodiment can also be used in combination with features disclosed there. The proportions of the features presented can also vary without departing from the concept of the invention.

REFERENCE LIST

Packaging film

1A Inner side of the packaging film

1B Outer side of the packaging film

2 First edge

3 Second edge

4 First material weakening zone

5 Second material weakening zone

6 Opening strip

7 Third material weakening zone

8 Fourth material weakening zone

9A First sealing region

9B Second sealing region

10 Opening initiating means

11 First slit

12 Second slit

13 Third slit

14 Tear-off region

15 Separating slit

16 Print control marks

17 Package

18 Longitudinal fin

RB Edge region

A1 First distance

A2 Second distance

LR Longitudinal direction

S_(n−1),S_(n),S_(n+1) Segment

T1, T2 Dividing line 

1. A packaging film for producing a package, wherein the packaging film comprises a first edge and a second edge in the longitudinal direction, and comprises a first material weakening zone and a second material weakening zone which extend between the first edge and the second edge and between them define an opening strip, wherein the material weakening zones end at a distance from the edges, and comprises a first sealing region adjacent to the first edge and a second sealing region adjacent to the second edge, wherein the sealing regions are localised on that side of the packaging film intended as the inner side of the package and the material weakening zones extend into the sealing regions, and comprises opening initiating means which are disposed at a distance from at least one of the edges, wherein an edge region between the respective edge and the opening initiating means is free from these opening initiating means.
 2. The packaging film according to claim 1, wherein a first distance between the first edge at which the material weakening zones end on the one side is greater than a second distance between the second edge at which the material weakening zones end on the other side.
 3. The packaging film according to claim 1, wherein the opening initiating means comprise a first slit which is formed at a position corresponding to an intermediate space between the material weakening zones, wherein this first slit is localised adjacent to the second edge having a distance from the second edge corresponding to the second distance or in addition to said first slit comprises a further first slit at said position, wherein the further first slit is localised adjacent to the first edge having a distance from the first edge corresponding to the second distance.
 4. The packaging film according to claim 3, wherein the opening initiating means comprise a second slit and a third slit and the first slit is connected to the second slit and the third slit, and the second slit extends from the first slit in the direction of the first material weakening zone and the third slit extends from the first slit in the direction of the second material weakening zone.
 5. The packaging film according to claim 1, wherein the opening initiating means are formed adjacent to both edges.
 6. The packaging film according to claim 1, wherein the edge region which is free from opening initiating means has a tear-off zone.
 7. The packaging film according to claim 1, wherein a separating slit between the material weakening zones runs along the first edge at a distance measured from the first edge which is greater than or equal to the first distance inside the first sealing region.
 8. The packaging film according to claim 7, wherein a third material weakening zone and a fourth material weakening zone is formed between the further first slit and the separating slit, wherein the third material weakening zone runs between the first material weakening zone and the end region of the further first slit and the fourth material weakening zone runs between the other end region of the further first slit.
 9. The packaging film according to claim 7, wherein the separating slit extends beyond the first and the second material weakening zones.
 10. A method for manufacturing a package using a packaging film according to claim 1, comprising the following process steps: unrolling and supplying the packaging film in web form and producing a longitudinal fin by looping the packaging film and sealing the packaging film along the edges in the sealing regions, wherein the opening initiating means disposed at a distance from one of the edges despite the existence of the edge region between the respective edge and the opening initiating means, which edge region is free from these opening initiating means, are accessible in the longitudinal fin so that they can be handled freely.
 11. The method according to claim 10, wherein when opening initiating means are only formed on one side adjacent to one of the edges when producing the longitudinal fin, that edge on which the opening initiating means are formed and the other edge are aligned such that that edge on which the opening initiating means are formed project so far beyond the other edge in the longitudinal fin that the opening initiating means are localised above the other edge.
 12. The method according to claim 10, wherein when opening initiating means are formed on both sides adjacent to both edges when producing the longitudinal fin, the two edges are aligned so that the opening initiating means formed on both sides are localised congruently in the longitudinal fin.
 13. The method according to claim 10, comprising a closing of the package by sealing the packaging film at a top or bottom side of the package and separating the packaging film along the separating lines.
 14. A package fabricated according to a method according to claim
 10. 15. A package fabricated using a packaging film according to claim
 1. 